Page 608 - LITTLE WOMEN

Little Women

‘Excuse me, I was looking for the Weekly Volcano
office. I wished to see Mr. Dashwood.’
Down went the highest pair of heels, up rose the
smokiest gentleman, and carefully cherishing his cigar

between his fingers, he advanced with a nod and a
countenance expressive of nothing but sleep. Feeling that
she must get through the matter somehow, Jo produced
her manuscript and, blushing redder and redder with each
sentence, blundered out fragments of the little speech
carefully prepared for the occasion.
‘A friend of mine desired me to offer—a story—just as
an experiment—would like your opinion—be glad to
write more if this suits.’
While she blushed and blundered, Mr. Dashwood had
taken the manuscript, and was turning over the leaves
with a pair of rather dirty fingers, and casting critical
glances up and down the neat pages.
‘Not a first attempt, I take it?’ observing that the pages
were numbered, covered only on one side, and not tied
up with a ribbon—sure sign of a novice.
‘No, sir. She has had some experience, and got a prize
for a tale in the BLARNEYSTONE BANNER.’
‘Oh, did she?’ And Mr. Dashwood gave JO a quick
look, which seemed to take note of everything she had

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